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Although not as traditional as some, our advent season is filled with family, joy and expectation, just the same. One of our favorite Advent traditions combines Christmas books and a sort of countdown.

Being a bookish family, a book-related Advent idea appealed to me immediately. I first heard about it from the lovely Sally Clarkson of MomHeart Ministry fame, but have seen other people share it since then.

The original idea is to wrap 24 Christmas themed books, and unwrap one each day to enjoy leading up to Christmas.

This is great for smaller kids, because as they see the pile grow smaller, they know that Christmas is getting closer in a real, tangible way.

We have added movies to the mix, just one or two per week, our favorites (think White Christmas, It’s A Wonderful Life, The Nativity, etc.)

The books are all types; we have the fun, very American ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, but also more meaningful and traditional The Three Trees and The Nutcracker. One of my favorites is Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect which encourages service to others.

In the beginning, we didn’t have enough Christmas themed books to get us through, but this is where a thrift store can really come in handy! Over the years we have replaced some of the less-loved thrift store books with beautiful, meaningful, favorites.

It is possible that as our kids get older, the books may get more grown up too, but we will probably still have a few family favorite picture books in our pile!

For our family, to gather together and experience a story has become one of our favorite parts of the Christmas season. It is truly a joy to watch the kids unwrap a book and have their faces light up in anticipation!

Jesus and joy go hand in hand. The angels confirmed it that night, long ago. And this is one joy-filled tradition that transforms us and brings us closer together as a family.

Have you ever rented a movie because you heard that one particular scene was incredible? When you sat down to watch it, did you fast-forward through everything that occurs prior to the amazing scene, and then shut it off right after you’d watched it? I doubt it...who does that? You’d miss out on so much! You’d have no context for anything that happened in the scene, and would not have any understanding of the depth and complexity behind the events. We don’t do this because we understand that the writers, producers, directors, and actors have carefully prepared the entire movie for their audience. They have thought through every detail, planning the perfect presentation of that amazing scene as well as a resolution that brings everything together in the end. So, could you say that you’d seen the movie if you’d only watched one scene? No...no you couldn’t.

Now, with this in mind, let’s talk about Christmas. With the hustle and bustle of the season...which is really only four weeks long...it is easy to end up experiencing the holiday much the same way as the movie experience described above. We do think about Jesus’ birth, the angels, the shepherds, the wise men, the inn. However, as we stroll (or run frantically) through stores and wrap gifts and deck the halls, our thoughts rarely turn to to Noah...or David...or Rahab...or Joseph. Christmas zooms by, and we collapse on December 26, wondering, “was that IT? Christmas is...just OVER?” And maybe there’s a bit of a let-down...like you’d just watched a thrilling scene...and now it’s done. Maybe it feels like there should’ve been more to it...a lot more.

The thing is...there is.

This story, the story of a good Father who sends His only Son to get His precious ones back, it’s been carefully prepared for you. It is a story that was written long before you or I existed, but with you and I in mind. Every detail on every page has been purposefully crafted. Is it any wonder, then, that if we skip or skim most of it and only jump in at the part where the baby is laid in the manger, we end up feeling like we’ve missed something?

We have.

The advent season, the four weeks before Christmas, was always a time of spiritual preparation for my family.

Why would we need to spiritually prepare for Christmas? Simply put: so that we wouldn’t spiritually miss out on the whole thing.

When we’ve spent 4 weeks leading up to Christmas contemplating God’s amazing plan to rescue us, the celebration of the “advent”, or arrival, of the Rescuer Himself is unbelievably rich. There are many wonderful ways to do this. Our family has a “Jesse Tree” that we put up on December 1. The tree is named after David’s father, Jesse...and the name “Jesse” means “man”. As you know, Jesus referred to Himself as the “Son of Man”, which harkens back to prophecy concerning the Messiah...who would be one of David’s descendants (Daniel 7:13-14, Jeremiah 23:5-6).

We read a chunk of scripture each day and hang an ornament that depicts something from that day’s passage. The passages span much of the Bible, so that we get to experience the entire story. The passages also reveal what Jesus’ family was like.

We are reminded of the joy that is ours in being grafted into this family of redeemed sinners; and as we hang the ornaments on the tree, we remember that our adoption into His family was accomplished by Jesus hanging on a tree.

If you’d like to give this a try, here’s a suggested daily reading plan. The passages are suggestions on specific events upon which to meditate for the day. If you find yourself unfamiliar with them or simply wanting more, please read further as your time allows.

The more you read, the greater your experience of Christmas will be. (Order of passages taken from Ann Voskamp’s The Greatest Gift):

December 1: Isaiah 11:1-2, 10

December 2: Genesis 1:1-5, 26-27

December 3: Genesis 3:1-24

December 4: Genesis 6:5-22

December 5: Genesis 12: 1-7

December 6: Genesis 21: 1-7

December 7: Genesis 22:1-2, 6-14

December 8: Genesis 28:10-16

December 9: Genesis 37:3-4, 31-33, 50:15-20

December 10: Deuteronomy 5:1, 5-22, 29

December 11: Joshua 2:1-21

December 12: Ruth 1:1-17

December 13: 1 Samuel 16:1-12

December 14: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

December 15: 1 Kings 18:18-24

December 16: Jonah 1:1-3, 17; 2:10; 3:1-5

December 17: Micah 5:2-5

December 18: Esther 4:10-17

December 19: Habakkuk 2:1; 3:16-19

December 20: Luke 1:6-17

December 21: Matthew 3:1-3

December 22: Luke 1:26-38

December 23: Matthew 1:18-23

December 24: Luke 2:1-7

December 25: Luke 2:11-19

Now, after Christmas is over, I’d invite you to continue reading through to Revelation, and begin your New Year with new perspective on this great big story...because it isn’t over yet. There’s much to look forward to as yearn for the day when our Lord who came back to get us makes all things new.

December 26: Matthew 3:13-17 December 27: Luke 8:1-2, 22-56

December 28: John 19:1-30 December 29: Mark 16

December 30: 1 John (Yes—read the whole book. Take a couple chapters in the morning and a couple at night.)

December 31: Revelation 1:1-3, 5:11-14, 21:1-7

In the sweltering of July, my mother finds her candles on sale at Hobby Lobby. She is always excited to find three purple and one pink. She can’t wait to call me and ask if I want her to purchase some for me as well. She is thoughtful and generous.

Why is she so happy about unusual colored candles? Because she uses them for her Advent Wreath in December. There is something touching and beautiful about her excitement as she considers celebrating the shocking miracle of the day that Christ came in the flesh to redeem His people.

I love this tradition too, although I never remember the reasons for the different colors. On the four Sundays that precede Christmas, Gabriel, myself, my mother and my father gather in a circle. My mother lights the candle, and then each candle progressively as the weeks continue. The first one will be a stump by the time Christmas arrives.

My father has a book of Scripture and prayer that we take turns reading. We start with the centuries old call of Isaiah and lead into the unbelievable fulfillment of them. No one could have written this story – it’s so perfect and so unimaginable. It is a time to ponder and marvel in anticipation.

We are reminded of our black, our shadows, our red-guilt. We are reminded of His purity, His Light, His red-blood that has cancelled our debt. We wonder, “What was it like for Mary? For Joseph? What about the shepherds?” We read of their fear, their confusion, and their obedience. We discuss the ramifications of their courage and faith.

Sometimes, I weep in our little circle. Quietly, and I don’t think they see it. But to watch my Dad, my Mom, and my son all together in prayer in worship is overwhelming.

It is a gift that I can’t fully express – I know our histories, our struggles, and how God has rescued us and reconciled us. First to Him, and now to each other. Our family has been rocked by death, by disease, by pain and hurt, and yet God’s mercy has enveloped us. It is good to gather and worship together. So good.

Maybe this is why my mother gets so excited in July when she finds those candles?   

With traditions, too often the “form” outlasts the “reason” behind it. Gift giving at Christmas originated as a way of remembering the presents given to Jesus by the Wise Men and more importantly God’s gift to man in Jesus Christ:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” ~John 3:16

By the way, did you know the biblical background of gift-giving? I had to search out the reason!

How often are we motivated to give because it is expected or we suspect someone is getting us a present?

Form becoming separate from reason can be a big problem as the Jews learned. In the Law, God had established a variety of traditional acts such as sacrifices and festivals, each with the intention to point people back to God’s blessings, to remind them of God’s way for them to live their life and to stimulate worship.

While the Jews maintained the outward form, the heart that it was intended to stimulate was dead.

In fact God condemned their actions:

“Stop bringing meaningless offerings,

Your incense is detestable to me.

New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—

I cannot bear your evil assemblies.

Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts My soul hates

They have become a burden to me;

I am wary of bearing them.” Isaiah 1:14-15

We must remain cognizant of why we celebrate traditions so that they are not routine but instead a form of worship.

In our family there are very few immutable traditions, save one. The one constant has been the gathering of our family for the Christmas Holiday. While the reason, connecting with family, has remained constant, the form, how we gather, has seen significant change over the years.

Initially Penny and I had to work out the balance of time between our extended families, Christmas Eve with her side and Christmas morning with mine. As time progressed we saw changes to the family as siblings added spouses, children soon followed, and now we are beginning to experience the loss of parents. All along the way compromises to form have been necessary to address changing family needs and schedules. But the reason, connecting with family, has always remained the same.

The most significant change happened just a few years ago when we decided it was time to begin celebrating Christmas at our home in the East Mountains rather than traveling to Texas as we had done for 29 straight years. This was prompted by our boys starting families of their own.

This is not to say that form is not also important, just ask Nadab and Abihu who offered unauthorized fire before the Lord (LV 10:1-2) or Uzzah when he reached out to steady the ark of God (II Sam 6:6-7).

Really connecting with family over the holidays takes more than just time and proximity—form matters.  

We have found that some years are a homerun and others are something less; which seems to hinge on the form of our time together. Hurt feelings over unappreciated gifts or meals can detract from success while a simple game of chicken-foot where everyone turns off the TV and phones and laughs and interacts for 2-3 hours can really make the connection happen.

Tradition can enrich the Holiday Season or it can also introduce real challenges. Before you let traditions detract from your festivities stop and ask yourself:

1. What is the reason behind this tradition and thus is it worth fighting to maintain?
2. Is the form important or would it be appropriate to try something new?

Whether you are initiating new traditions or following those that are tried-and-true remember to keep Christ at the center of your Christmas Season.

A deep breath of cool, crisp autumn air.

Thanks, Lord.

A breath of air is such a little thing, a very small detail of life indeed. Something I take for granted about 18,000 times a day, but couldn’t survive without!

Comparing a custom built home to a tract house in an episode of "This Old House", master craftsman Tommy Silva said, "The difference is in the details, it's a sure sign of craftsmanship." If you want to build a quality house you have to pay attention to the little things and get those right. That's true in our lives as well.

Jesus told a parable about little things in Matthew 25. A man entrusted some money to several of his servants and went away. The servants were expected to provide the master with a return on his investment. To those who were good stewards, the master said, "Well done... you've been faithful with a few things; now I will put you in charge of many things."

One of the principles we can draw from this is: take care of the little things and you'll be able to handle the big ones. It's not much of a stretch to apply this to thanksgiving. Are you grateful for each breath, do you recognize each gift as though it is from the Master Craftsman’s hand?

I find it hard to be truly thankful for the big things in life when I'm not genuinely grateful for the little things.

I also don't want to confuse politeness with giving thanks to God. Our culture dictates that we say 'please' and 'thank you' a lot, and sometimes we may even mean it! Too often it is an auto response, devoid of any real meaning.

Boy, I don't want to approach God that way, even on one of those little things.

So how do we keep a thankful perspective, especially during the holiday season?

It’s all too easy to focus solely on the 'big' things; or on the contrary, to concentrate completely on the details and get way down in the weeds.

Pray for balance this year, for the ability to see the forest AND appreciate that without the detail of each branch on every tree there would be no beautiful forest. 

Join me in expressing heartfelt gratitude to God across the spectrum of life; for each breath of that fragrant fall air, for a master craftsman who pays attention to each detail, to the wonderful incarnation of God coming to Earth to save a bunch of sinners like you and me.

Thanks, Lord!